Egg carton



June 13, 1933. 1 R. GUYER 1,913,441

EGG CARTON Filed June 24, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 58 gfx/m1116016 f8Reyna/al? aye/w June 13, 1933. R. GUYER 1,913,441

` EGG CARTON Filed' June 24, 1929 5 sheets-sheet 2 Fly fk5/Molds 'uye):

Cutoff/M415 June 13, 1933.

gwtwnto'o dito/mugs Patented .lune 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTori-"ICEi REYNOLDS euren, ois'v sfr. nur., immnon, assIeNoa To wALnonruna Paon- Ucrs comm, or ser. nur., IINNEsoTA, .a conroaa'rron orMINNESOTA EGG CARTON Application led .Tune 24, 1929. Serial No. 373,189.

My inventionrelates to egg cartons, and has for its object to provide anegg carton which shall be simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

a Another object of the invention resides in providing a carton whichmay be shipped in knocked down or collapsed form, and which may bereadily extended or erected inan easy and.simple manner when ldesiredfor use.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a carton inwhich the eggs are disposed in an inclined manner to give ready accessthereto.

A. kfeature of the invention resides in providing an egg carton in whichvthe eggs may be easily removed therefrom.

An objectof the invention resides in constructin the carton with a bodyportion having a- -shaped` bottom adapted to be collapsed into themedial plane of the carton, and in hingedly connecting to the bottom anumber of dividers adapted to normally lie alon the medial plane or tobe swung out- `War ly therefrom at right angles to thebottom of thecarton when the `same is in extended position. f f

Another object of thev invention resides in providing the bottom withtransverse slots for the reception of such dividers and in constructingthe apex of the bottom with a number of keys adapted to overlie saidslots, and

` serving to hold the dividers attached to the bottom. i

1-Astill further object of the invention resides in forming the keys ofsaid bottom deftached from the adjoining ortions of the bottom so as topermit of the ateral displacement of the parts of the bottom adjacentfeach of said slots to allow the insertion of the `dividers betweenthe laterally displaced portions ofV the bottom when the bottom iscollapsed.

A feature of the invention resides in form- An object of the inventionresides invpro-i.

viding side walls attached to the bottom and in providing end membersconnected to the. side walls along the: vertical edges thereof ing thedividers with openings adapted to' adapted to fold along thevmedialplane 01':v

the carton upon the erecting of the carton.

Another object of the invention resides in forming the ends of said endmembers with tabs d1sposed along the medial plane for hingedlyconnecting the end members of the carton together, and in furtherconnecting said tabs to one another.

Astill further object of the invention resides in terminating the apexof said bottom below the uppermost portion of the eggs, and inprovidingclosure members for the carton connected to theside walls andconstructed 'with flaps adapted to meet along the medial plane of thecarton for separating the upper portions of the eggs.

, A still further object of the invention resides in constructing theclosure members with inclined walls inclining in the same direction asportions of the bottom `for holding the eggs in inclined position withinthe carton( Other objects of the invention reside in the details ofconstruction thereof, and in .the

1 in collapsed form `.with

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the f carton in closedposition.

Fig. is a developed view of the blank from which the body of the cartonis cone structed. l

Fig. 6 is a developedview .of the blank from which the divider of thecarton is constructed. l f

Figs. 'i' and 8 are fragmentary detail perspectlve views showing themethod of a'pplying the divider to the collapsed bottom of the carton.

My improved carton comprises a body por-4 tion which I have indicated inits entirety at A. This body portion is preferably constructed of asingle sheet of cardboard or other suitable paper box material which iscut in the shape shown in Fig. 5 and scored along the various placesindicated by dotted lines. This carton comprisesv a bottom 10 which isscored along the line 15 to permit of bending the same along the medialplane of the carton to give the bottom a il-shaped form. The score mark15 is disposed at the apex of the bottom, which I have designated at 16,from which the two portions 13 and 14 of the bottom 10 slope downwardly.The body portion A of the carton is further provided with side walls 11and 12 which are adapted to be bentupwardly from the bottom portions 13and 14 along score marks 17 and 18. The side walls 11 and 12 haveattached to them end wall members 19 and 20 which are adapted to be bentoutwardly therefrom and at right angles thereto along score marks 21 and22 along the vertical edges of the said side walls 11 and 12. The outerledges of the end walls 19 and 20 are constructed with tabs 23 and 24which are further bent outwardly therefrom along score marks 25 and 26and which lie back to back, as best shown in Fig. 1, when the carton iscompleted.

When the carton is in collapsed position,

the two portions 13 and 14 ofthe bottom 10 are folded back uponthemselves and are disposed between the side walls `11 and 12, as Vbestshown in Fig. 2, while the end wall members 19 and 20 extend outwardlybeyond the ends of the carton and lie in the same plane as the said sidewalls 11 and 12. The tabs 23 .and 24 of these end wall members may bevparte become disposed as shown in Fig. 1

with the portions 13 and 14 of the bottom 10 in V-shaped formation, andthe side walls 11 and 12 extending upwardly therefrom.

For holding the end wal members 19 and 20 in locked position withrespect to the carton proper, these end walls are constructed withtongues 28 which are adapted to extend into slots 29 formed .in theportions 13 and 14 of the bottom 10. When so vdisposed, thecarton properis firmly held in erected Vposition with the various sides and end wallsdisposed in proper relation to one another and,l

to the bottom of the carton. In conjunction with the body portion A ofthe carton, a number of dividers are en ployed which are shown in detailin Fig. 6, and which are indicated in their entirety at B. Thesedividers are constructed of cardboard or other suitable paper boxmaterial andare of a width equal to or less than the interior width ofthe carton between the side walls 11 and 12 when the carton is erectedposition. The bottom of the divider B is constructed with two saddles 30and 31 which are formed by cutting away the lower portion of the bottomof the divider along lines 32 and 33 parallel with the portions 13 and14 of the V-shaped bottom 10. When disposed within the carton,thesedividers rest upon the bottom 10 through the said saddles which formsupports for holding the same in a fixed position within the cartonproper. For holding the dividers in proper spaced relation, the bottom1() is constructed with a plurality of complemental slots 34 and 35which extend to within a short distance of the score mark 15 and fallshort of the score marks I17 and 18. These slots are adapted to receivethe various dividers B in a manner to be presently described. At the`ends of the slots 34 and 35 adjacent thel score mark 15, the stock ofthe blank from which the body member A is constructed is cut alongcircular lines 36 to form projections 37 which 'extend outwardly fromthe severed portions of the bottom and overlie the ends of the slots 34and 35. These projections, are adapt/ed to be received within circularopenings 38 cut in the various dividers B which are disposed at theintersections of the two lines 32 and 33. When the carton is assembledwith the various dividers disposed within their respective slots and thekeys disposed within the openings 38, the said dividers are held inproper position within the carton and are supported upon the bottomproper through the saddles 30 and 31.

In assembling the dividers within the carton, the carton is firstcollapsed so that the portions 13 and 14 of the bottom 10 lie along thesame plane as indicated in Fig. 7. The adjacent portions of the bottom10 on o osite sides of the various slots 34 and 35 w ich I haveindicated in'Fig. 7 at 39 and 40 are moved laterally out of the medialplane of the carton so as to spread the two portions of the bottom apartand permit the insertion of one of the dividers B into the spacetherebetween. When the parts are so arranged, the projection 37 of thebottom adjacent the slots 34 and 35 may be inserted into the opening 38of the divider so as to cause the parts to be disposed as shown in Fig.8. By nowl releasing the portions 39 and 40 of the bottom, thesamewill-spring back to substantially normal position ,securely holdingthe dividers in place substantially in the medial plane of the carton.In a similar manner, all of the various dividers ofthe carton may beassembled, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2.

Il'he carton is assembled at the factory and is shipped in collapsedform to the user. W'hen it is desired to erect the carton, the

4 portions 13 and 14 of the bottom 10 of the swing from their positionsin the medial ,v

plane to positions at right anglesv thereto. The dividers being freefrom the side -walls readily move into extended position when the cartonis so manipulated and quickly and properly become disposed in thedesired relation. After the carton has been properl extended, thetongues 28 ofthe end wal members 19 and 20 are inserted into therespective grooves 29 of the bottom 10 which firmly locks the variousparts in proper position. When the carton is erected, the d1- viders Bare held from transverse movement through rojections 37 which form keysfor holding t e same in `place and are held from longitudinal or`pivotal movement through the slots 34 and 35.

For closing the carton', the side walls 11 and 12 are constructed withclosure members 41 and 42. These members are adapted to be bent towardone another along score marks 43and 44 and are arranged to extend acrossthe upper portions 45 of the dividers B. These closure members larefurther scored along the lines 46 and 47 to divide the same intoinclined portions .50 and horizontal portions 51 which latter lie alongthe upper edges 52 of the dividers B and hold the same immovablewithinthe carton. For the purpose of holding the closure in place, themembers 41 and 42 are constructed. with flaps 53 and 54 which are bentoutwardly from said closures along score marks 48 and 49. These flapsare adapted to meet one another back to back along the medial plane ofthe carton and are adapted to be received within a plurality of slots 55centrally disposed within the upper portions of the various dividers B.It will be noted in Fig.. 4

that the eggs, mayl be arranged in inclined position within the twocompartments formed on each side of the bottom 10 and wheniso disposed,the" apex 16 of the bottom falls short ofY the upper portion of theeggs.

When the carton vis closed, the two ilaps 53 and 54- separate the tworows of eg and when the .closure members-are open, t e said `flapsl arewithdrawn from between the eg s, thereby exposing the major portion of te same. This permits of readily inserting Vthe forefinger and-indexfinger within the carton and 4in readily removingthe eggs individuall'y,which is otherwise extremely difi, icult where the partition between thetwo rows' of eggs extend upwardly to the top of the cartonor to jwithina short distance of the upper portion thereof,

In the-use of the invention, the carton is shipped in knocked downAform, as previously brought out. When desired, for use, the same is'erected by spreading apart the portions at` the bottom whichautomatically moves the dividers into position. r1`he end walls are thenlocked in position with respect to the bottom andthe carton is thenready to receive the eggs. After placing the eggs in the variouscompartments formed by the dividers, bottom and side walls of thecarton, the closure may be closed by insertingthe flaps in the variousslots formed in the dividers. By making the slots of pro er width, thefiaps can be made to fit snug y within the same, and to hold thecartonlirmly closed so that the same may be readily handled withoutdanger of being accidentally o ened. In order to facilitate the ooeningo the closures, the sameare constructed with ears`58 which project`outwardly bevond the end walls of thev carton proper.

y means of these ears.' the fingers may be readily inserted between. theportions 51 of the closure members 41 and 42 and the ends of the cartonand the flaps 53 and 54 disengagedfrom within the slots 55. Upon removal.of the said iiaps from between the rows ,of eggs, free spaces areformed at the upper'portions of the eggs in which the iingers may beinserted to permit of the withdrawal of the eggs individually from thecarton.

My invention is highly advantageous in that an extremely simple andinexpensive egg carton is provided which performs all of the functionsdesired with egg cartons. TheA egg carton may be shipped in .collapsedform and readily and quickly erected by the user whenever desired.Thecarton is ex-n tremely rigid in constructlon and the various partsthereof are firmly held in proper position. /When the carton is erected,the dividers are automaticallv moved into extended position. The bodyportion of the carton ma be constructed from a single blank cut 1n thedesired shape and the dividers used in conunction therewith may be allassembled at t e factory, while the car- Patent is:

1.) An egg. carton comprising a body portion formed with' a V-shapedbottom,'said bottom being hinged at the apex thereofto swing from acollapsed to anextended posi i tion, said body being formed with a sloteX- tending thereacross, a ke formed at the apex of said bottom and overying said slot, a divider adapted to be received within said slot andformed with an openingto receive said key, said divider being adapted toivot bon said key and to swing from apositlon comciding with the planeof said bottom when collapsed to a position at right angles to. saidbottom when extended and means for swinging said divider on said keyinto its right angle position upon swinging of said bottom to itsextended position.

2. An egg carton comprising a body portion collapsible along the medialplane thereof, said body portion comprising a bottom' and side wallshingedly connected thereto, a

divider pivotally mounted on said bottom and adapted to swing freebetween said side walls upon the erectingof the carton, and meanspermanently hinged along th'e medlal plane forming end walls for saidcarton and connecting sa1d side walls together.

^ 3. An-egg carton comprising a body portion having a bottom and sidewalls'hingedly 'connected thereto, said body portion belng collapsiblealong the medial plane of the carton, end members hingedly connected tosaid side walls along the vertical edges thereof, tabs extendingoutwardly from said end wall members along the medial plane for hingedlyconnecting said end walls together, and means for securing said tabs toone another.

4. An egg carton comprising a body portion having an inclined plamformbottom D and an inclined planiform closure inclining in the samedirection as said bottom and spaced therefrom, and -means cooperatingwith said bottom and closure for supporting an egg in inclined relationwith said carton.

5. An egg carton comprising a body portion formed with a V-sha-pedbottom, side walls connected to said bottom, a closure for said cartonhaving walls inclined in the same direction as said bottom for causingsaid closure to nest within the bottom of another similar carton, anddividers within said car- 4 ton extending through said bottom, saiddividers being spaced from the lowermost portion of said bottom adistance greater than the distance between the portion of said bot- 'tomcontacting with the other carton upon which said carton rests and thelowermost portion of the bottom thereof.

6. An egg carton comprising a body portion formed with a V-shapedbottom, vertical walls extending upwardly from said bottom,

upwardly inclined walls convpeeted to the up'- per edges of saidvertical walls, horizontal closure members extending toward one a'n-vother from said inclined walls, and flaps extending inwardly into thecarton from said closure members, said bottom, side walls, inclinedwalls, closure members, and flaps all contacting with an egg placedwithin the carton at dilerent localities thereon to hold laslot formeLeyla-.1.41

the e g lirmly supported within the carton.

n eg carton comprising a body portion collapsible along the medial planethereof, said body portion comprising a bottom and side walls connectedthereto, end mem'- bers connected to'said side Walls and hinged alongthe medial plane, and locking means on said bottom and end walls forholding the carton in extended position.

8. An egg carton comprising a body portion collapsible along the medialplane thereof, said body portion comprising a bottom and side wallsconnected thereto, end members connected to said side walls and hingedalong thev medial plane, said bottom having a slot`in the plane of saidend wall, a tongue formed on said end wall and engaged within said slotfor holding said carton in erected attached to said bottom.

10. An egg carton comprising a body portion collapsible along the medialplane'thereof, said body portion comprising a V-shaped bottom and sidewalls connected thereto, end Walls connected to vsaid side walls alongthe medial plane, said bottom extending outwardly beyond the ends ofsaid side walls, the

lower edges of said end walls being inclined in the same direction assaid bottom to lie upon the projecting ends of said bottom, and meansfor locking said end Walls to said bottom.

11. An egg carton comprising a body portion collapsible along the medialplane thereof, said body portion comprising a V-shaped bottom and sideWalls connected thereto, end Walls connected to said side wallsalong'the medial lane, said bottom extending outwardly yond the ends ofsaid side walls, the lower edges of said end walls being inclined in thesame direction as said bottom to lie upon the rojecting ends of saidbottom,

d) in the projecting portions of said bottom, and a tongue formed onsaid end wall engaged within said slot for holding the box in erectedposition.

12. An egg carton comprising al body portion having a bottom andsidewalls connected thereto, an end wall connected to said side wallsand comprising two sections each foldable from its respective side walltoward the other and overlying said bottom, said bottom having anextension extending outwardly beyond\ said side walls, and tabs formedon the meeting portion of said end -wall'sections for securing the sametogether,

` foldable from its respective side wall toward the other and overlyingsaid bottom, said bot-- tom having an extension extendin outward- 1ybeyond said side walls, and ta s formed on the meeting portion of saidend wall sections for securing the same together, said tabsextendingoutwardly beyond -the plane of the end wall in the same direction as theY extension of said bottom, and a closure connected to one of said s1dewalls, said-closure having an extension 'extending outwardly.

beyond said end wall inthe same direction as said bottom extension andtabs.

14. An egg carton comprising a body portion formed with a V-shapedbottom, said bottom being hinged at the apex thereof tol swing from acollapsed to an extended position, transverse slots in said bottomfalling short of the apex thereof, said bottom being formed at its apexwith a slit communicating with said slots to form a ke extendinglongitudinally of said bottom an away from said slots, said key beingfoldable outwardly with said bottom into V-shaped formation to reinforcethe same, and a divider 'insertable into said slots, said divider havingan opening for the reception of said key.

15. An egg carton comprising a body portion formed with a V-shapedbottom, said bottom having slots therein, a key formed at thev apex ofsaid bottom, and at the ends of said slots, a divider insertable intosaid slots, said divider extending above said key and having an openingfor the reception of said key, said openin bein totall disconnectedfromthe perip ery o said ivider.

16. An egg carton comprising abody portion having a V-shaped bottom,side walls hingedly connected thereto, said body lortion beingcollapsible along the medial p ane of said carton, said bottom beinghinged alon the apex thereof and swingable inwar y into the box, endmembers hingedl connected to said side walls along the vertical edgesthereof, said end members being in said'box.

tion collapsi hinged alongthe medial plane and adapte to extend outwardlbeyond the ends of said side walls to clear t e collapsed bottom with-17 An egglcarton comprisin -a body porof, said body portion comprsin' aV-shaped bottom and side walls connecte thereto,end walls connected tosaid side walls hinged along the 'medial plane, said end walls having te lower edges thereof inclined to correspond to the inclination of saidV-shaped bottom, said bottom having a slot in the along the media planethere- 18. An egg carton comprising a body portion having'a bottom andside walls connected thereto, said bottom havin inclined portions,closure members for said carton coin- .prising walls issuing upwardlyfrom the side walls and inclining in the same direction as the inclinedportions of said bottom, parts of the inclined portions of saidbottomand closure members superimposing one another to bring the closure`members of one carton within the bottom portions' of a superimposedcarton to restrain lateral movement of the one relative to the other.

19. An egg cartoncomprising a body portion having a bottom and sidewalls connected thereto, said bottom having inclined portions, closuremembers for said carton comprising walls issuing upwardly from the sidewalls and inclining in the same direction as the inclined portions ofsaid bottom, another wall issuin from one of said inclined walls andexten in in a horizontal direction, and dividers wlthin saidcartonextending through the bottom thereof and fallin short of the lowermostpart of the incline portions of the bottom and having horizontallydisposed edges therebetween, parts of the inclined portions of saidbottom and closure members superimposing one another to bring theinclined closure members of one carton within the bottom portions of asuperimposed carton to restrain lateral movement of the one relative tothe other, the horizontal edges of the dividers of one carton beingdisposed above the horizontal closure wall of an underlyin cartontobring the inclined portions of t e two cartons in contact whereby onecarton is centered relative to the other.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature to this s ecification.

' EYNOLDS GUYER.

